Media delivery platform

ABSTRACT

An improved method for delivery and play back of sound and image files is provided. This new method includes the use of sound and/or image clips, which can be snippets or full files, as alerts for a variety of electronic devices or for playing on a handheld device, and for use as a promotion to sell items associated with the files. A collection or library of uniquely selected and/or edited clips may also be provided to the consumer in a manner far more conveniently on conventional telephone equipment than previously available. Algorithms are provided for the delivery, storage and playback of the sound files, including a delivery method algorithm ( 500 ), a parametric optimization and compression algorithm ( 1500 ), and an error correction algorithm. In contrast to the conventional ring tones or musical chimes used to ring cellular phones currently on the market, the current invention provides a method for ringing cellular phones and landline telephones with real sound recordings including real music, which may be songs lifted from copyright registered CD tracks, and may comprise human voice, various instrument sounds, and other sound effects of a high quality. A software based system for encoding the hardware of existing cellular phones at the time of manufacturing with delivery, storage, and playback capabilities in accordance with the present invention is provided, such that additional hardware is not required.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a continuation application claiming priority from U.S.Provisional Application Serial No. 60/301,681 filed on Jun. 27, 2001,U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/303,115 filed on Jul. 3,2001, U.S. Provisional Application Serial No.60/312,450 filed on Aug.14, 2001, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/343,159 filedOct. 26, 2001, all of which applications are incorporated herein by thisreference thereto.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This invention relates to a method of delivery and play back ofsound and image files for wireless and non-wireless electronic devices.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The general concept for delivery of sound recordings or clips andvisual recordings or clips by way of the Internet is known and describedin various U.S. patent applications. (See Bernard et al., U.S. Pat. No.5,918,213; Kaplan, U.S. Pat. No. 5,963,916; Barbara, U.S. Pat. No.5,926,789; and Doerr et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,949,41.) Such methods aretypically used to sell products to consumers. For example, a web pagefrom Amazon.com allows a user to listen to samples of music for beforepurchasing compact discs (CD's) by mail.

[0004] Also, cell phones may be programmed to ring with a tune of a songor musical composition, and have become increasingly popular. However,cellular phones currently on the market can only be either programmed toonly play music (such as conventional MP3 type phones) or to deliver“ring tones” with an electronic chime or ring tone rather than an actualrecorded song, human voice, or musical composition. Additionally, thesering tones must be factory installed in the telephone or the deliverymethods just directly interface with the Internet and require theconsumer to be on line to access and download a particular mechanicalring tone.

[0005] At the same time, various methods have been developed and arebeing used to enable a phone user to make more effective use of thevariety of telephone service now available. For example, “caller ID”function is one such feature which allows the recipient of an incomingcall to identify the caller based on textual information provided on atelephone display panel. A patent to Borland, U.S. Pat. No. 6,178,230discloses an improved telephone system and method that determines theidentity of the person being called for a telephone having more than oneuser and can identify the person being called by sounding a distinctivering associated with the person being called. A mechanical ring tone isplayed depending upon the caller ID signal received to orally alert thetelephone user as to who is calling without reading the telephone'sdisplay panel.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

[0006] The present invention provides an improved method for deliveryand play back of sound and image files which include songs, musicalcompositions, and other sound recordings cartoons, movies, televisionshows, or any other type of performance, which may be copyrightregistered, as well as non copyright registered personal recordings(e.g., personal sound recordings, family photos, home movies, etc.).This new method includes the use of sound and/or image clips, which canbe snippets or full files, as alerts for a variety of electronic devicesor for playing on a handheld device. A collection or library of uniquelyselected and/or edited clips may also be provided to the consumer in amanner far more conveniently on conventional telephone equipment thanpreviously available.

[0007] The method provides the consumer with a unique way of accessingand browsing through selectable files which may be Internet based orindependent of the Internet. Additionally, the unique delivery methodprovides a seller or service provider with a convenient and moreefficient way of promoting and selling entire sound and image fileswhich include downloadable music, movies, films, shows, and items suchas records, cassette tapes, CDs, videos, and DVDs.

[0008] Algorithms are provided for the delivery, storage and playback ofthe sound files, including a delivery method algorithm, a parametricoptimization and compression algorithm, and an error correctionalgorithm.

[0009] According to one embodiment, sound files are accessed by acellular or landline telephone for allowing the consumer to browse,download, hear and/ or purchase sound files or use sound files includingsound clips as ringer sounds. In contrast to the conventional ring tonesor musical chimes used to ring cellular phones currently on the market,the current invention provides a method for ringing cellular phones(both analogue and digital) and landline telephones with real soundrecordings including real music, which may be songs lifted fromcopyright registered CD tracks, and may comprise human voice, variousinstrument sounds, and other sound effects of a high quality. Instead ofsimply tones being played the higher fidelity musical composition can beplayed by the telephone or other handset with a degree of fidelitypreviously unavailable using conventional methods. The high degree offidelity is achieved using data compression, error correction andparametric optimization algorithms adaptable to conventional telephonesand other handheld devices.

[0010] A software based system for encoding the hardware of existingcellular phones at the time of manufacturing with delivery, storage, andplayback capabilities in accordance with the present invention isprovided, such that additional hardware is not required. (Only asuitable speaker need be required with most telephones alreadypossessing the necessary quality of speaker.) The ability to providethis technology without the need for extra hardware is very significant,particularly to the cellular phone industry, as it is especiallydesirable to make cellular phones as lightweight and as small aspossible and at the lowest cost.

[0011] An accessory attachment to standard telephones can however beincorporated to implement the delivery, storage, and playbackcapabilities of the present invention to existing landline and cellulartelephones which have not been encoded at the time of their manufacture,if necessary. Such accessory attachments are compatible with existingtelephones, and may be sold separately. Also, a micro chip may beembedded in landline telephones for providing the telephone withbrowsing, delivery, storage, and playback capabilities of the presentinvention.

[0012] The accessory attachment or telephone encoded with softwareand/or including hardware for providing delivery, storage, and playbackcapabilities as described herein, may be manufactured with embeddedsound files including sound clips, such that a user can immediately playback the files, including use the files as ringer sounds, without havingto first download any files.

[0013] Additionally, upon hearing a sound clip on the telephone, a usermay choose to download the entire unedited sound file for a fee orpurchase an item associated with the sound clip (e.g., record, cassettetape, CD, video, or DVD) by pressing a designated button on theaccessory attachment or keys on the telephone keypad. As such, soundclips which have been downloaded to, or preprogrammed on a cell phone,may encourage and stimulate the sale of downloadable files and/or itemsassociated with the clips by allowing the user to make an impulsivepurchase immediately upon hearing the clips.

[0014] The accessing of sound and/or image files by other electronicdevices, such as home phones, computers, pagers, doorbells, alarms, palmpilots, watches, clocks, PDAs etc., for either allowing the consumer tobrowse, download, hear, view, and/or purchase sound recordings, imagefiles, or associated items, or to use sound and/or image clips as alertsis also part of the invention and not limited to solely telephones. Newelectronic devices, whose independent purpose is to allow the user tobrowse, receive, store and play sound and image files, including clips,according to the present invention are also described.

[0015] A security feature may be included on such electronic devicesadapted for allowing a consumer to access and use sound and image filesaccording to the present invention. This feature is designed to preventintellectual property abuse by consumers' unauthorized dissemination andreproduction of copyright protected material. The downloaded chips orrecordings are coded and cannot be downloadable or transferred to unitsother than the consumers' preselected layer or telephone.

[0016] Also, a tracking feature for keeping a record of every songdownloaded and/or each time a song is played can be incorporated forproviding performing rights organizations or songwriters' organizationswith an accurate method for determining royalty payments to writers andperformers of music.

[0017] Additionally, a website suitable for viewing and selectingdownloading sound and/or image clips or entire files may be used forgiving the consumer and music or image seller a unique way oftransacting the sale of such files or other associated items such asrecords, cassette tapes, CD's, videos, or DVD's. The website may allowthe clips to be stored on a user's computer, providing the user theability to readily access the clips for downloading the clips to anelectronic devise, using the clips as computer alerts, or playing theclips on the computer. The user may also purchase files or itemsassociated with the clips through the computer and/or website.

[0018] The system of the present invention may also allow the consumerto browse through hundreds or thousands of sound and/or image clipsand/or files for the purpose of downloading to electronic devices withan option to purchase an associated record, cassette tape, CD, video orDVD, or download the full unclipped sound and/or image file.

[0019] Furthermore, the delivery of files including clips is not limitedto web based applications. Unlike conventional methods which requirecomputer plug-in devices for delivering and transferring digital music,the current invention may use a delivery method which allows the user tobrowse, download, and listen to or watch sound or image files withoutthe need for hand wired plug-in devices or a computer connection to theInternet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0020]FIG. 1 is a general schematic diagram illustrating the basiccomponents of a wireless transmission system for a landline or cellulartelephone.

[0021]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless transmission systemfor a cellular phone.

[0022]FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a board system implemented in anaccessory unit of the system of FIG. 2.

[0023]FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a server software system for thesystem of FIG. 2.

[0024]FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a data transmission method.

[0025] FIGS. 6 A-D illustrate the electrical schematics of a mobiletelephone accessory unit in accordance with the present invention.

[0026]FIG. 7 illustrates an image of a printed circuit board for theaccessory unit of FIGS. 6 A-D.

[0027]FIG. 8 is an exploded side view illustrating the assembly of acellular phone accessory unit and cellular phone attachment to theaccessory unit.

[0028]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the cellular phone accessory unitand cellular phone of FIG. 8, showing the cellular phone attached to theback of the phone connector and mounting of the accessory unit.

[0029]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the accessory unit of FIG. 9,detached from the telephone.

[0030]FIG. 11 is a picture of the accessory unit of FIG. 9, disassembledfrom the mounting.

[0031]FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a landline transmission systemfor a home telephone.

[0032]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a board system implemented in anaccessory unit of a home telephone utilizing the system of FIG. 12.

[0033]FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram of server software for the systemof FIG. 12.

[0034]FIG. 15 is a flow chart for an audio data parametric optimizationand compression algorithm.

[0035]FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram of a protocol for a datatransmission method with error correction delivery for a digitalcellular telephone, illustrating individual packet acknowledgement for afull-duplex channel case.

[0036]FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram of a protocol for a datatransmission method with error correction delivery for a digitalcellular telephone, illustrating single acknowledgement for all packetsfor a half-duplex channel case.

[0037]FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram for a media file monitoring system.

MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0038] The detailed description set forth below in connection with theappended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferredembodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the onlyforms in which the present invention may be constructed and/or utilized.The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps forconstructing and operating the invention in connection with theillustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the sameor equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by differentembodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spiritand scope of the invention.

[0039] The present invention uses a unique method for delivery, storage,and play back of sound and image files which include songs, musicalcompositions, or other sound recordings, cartoons, movies, televisionshows, or any other type of performance, as well as personal clips(e.g., personal sound recordings, family photos, home movies, etc.).This method includes the use of sound and or image clips as alerts for avariety of electronic equipment, and provides the consumer with a uniqueway of accessing these files which may be Internet based or independentof the Internet.

[0040] The present invention may include a number of modules for anoverall system of delivery of music and audio/visual files. Thesemodules include a server of the files accessible by way of a specializedwebsite for viewing, selecting, sampling and downloading selected filesor portions thereof or directly accessible without going through awebsite. A telephone, be it conventional, cell phone or other hand helddevice with access to a communication network can access the servereither directly or through the website. Special algorithms allow thetransfer of the files to the handset providing the high gravityrecording in a file formal which allows for tracking and securityagainst unauthorized reproduction. The individual elements of theinvention are unique as well as the overall system of delivery trackingand security. Described below are more detail aspects of the inventionand its use.

[0041] Use of Sound and/or Image Clips as Alerts for Electronic Devices

[0042] According to one embodiment the system allows for sound and/orimage clips which are snippets of a musical and/or visual performancepiece to be used for sound and/or image alerts in electronic devices. Alibrary or collection of uniquely edited clips may be provided to theconsumer for browsing and selecting files to be stored on the electronicdevice. The consumer may also use home made personal clips (e.g.personal sound recordings, family photos, home movies, etc.).

[0043] The sound and/or image clips may be lifted from CD's, movies, TVshows, and the like, and are actual recordings, which may include humanvoice, instrument sound, and other sound effects, rather than mereelectronic chimes or tones as those produced by conventional cellularphones. Electronic devices which may utilize sound and/or image clips asalerts include, but are not limited to cellular phones, land linephones, computers, clocks, watches, pagers, door bells, car alarms, palmpilots, and personal calendars. It should be understood that althoughusing clips for alerts is preferable, full unedited files may also beused.

[0044] According to one embodiment, real music sound clips are used to“ring” a cellular or home phone. A clip or series of clips, which theuser can select, are played instead of the conventional electronic chimeor ring tone. Such a system may be implemented on conventional cellularphones, which may be analogue or digital, by downloading firmwearcomprising algorithms for delivery, storage, and playback of the soundfiles, to the RAM element of the phone. Such algorithms include adelivery method algorithm, a parametric optimization and compressionalgorithm, and an error correction algorithm. Alternatively, anaccessory unit that attaches to the cellular phone for implementing thesystem of the present invention may be provided.

[0045] According to another embodiment, sound and/or image clips areused for computer alerts such as e-mail notification sounds. Clips mayalso be used to ring a doorbell. Sound clips may further be used by aclock or watch to sound at the beginning of each hour, similar to agrandfather clock, wherein a different sound clip may be played at eachhour.

[0046] The present invention allows the user to store hundreds ofdifferent alert clips on a device. Unlike conventional electronicequipment which hold a limited number of selectable alerts, such as aconventional car alarm or music player alarm clock, the presentinvention allows the user to choose from an unlimited number of clipfiles including allowing the user to create his own alert clips or tochoose from a library of uniquely selected and/or edited files,including samples taken from CD's, movies, television shows and thelike.

[0047] A cellular phone, or similar device (having a processor, RAM, andflash elements) may be integrated with software at the time ofmanufacturing for implementing the system of the present invention.Alternatively, a chip may be embedded into the device or an accessoryunit, including a speaker, which attached to the device for implementingthe system of the present invention may be provided. The accessory unitmay have an adapter connection to the device. Such accessory unit may besold with several adapter outlets to enable it to fit onto a variety ofdifferent electronic devices.

[0048] Sound and/or image clips may be pre-stored on the electronicdevice or accessory unit at the time of manufacturing, such that theconsumer may be able to used the clips for alerts, without first havingto select and download clips.

[0049] A user of an electronic device, according to the presentinvention, may download and store a number of clips off of a website viaa plug-in connection of the device to the computer, or via a wirelessnetwork system such as the Apple® Airport. Additionally, a non-Internetbased holding system, which may be especially adapted for deliveringclips to the electronic device or accessory unit may also be provided.Such holding system may be accessed via a phone dial in connectionwherein a user may interact with the holding system by using the phonekeypads or voice commands. Other controls for interacting with theholding system, such as control buttons, voice commands or text keypads,may be provided on the accessory unit or the electronic device itselfwhich may be especially adapted for interacting with such holdingsystem. The accessory unit or electronic device itself may also be soldpreprogrammed with embedded clips for demonstration use.

[0050] Additionally, such electronic devices may be capable of receivingor sending clips directly from one device to another device. To preventtransferring of entire files from one device to another, a securityfeature may be included on the devices and work in conjunction with thefile.

[0051] One method of preventing the transferring of files is to encodeeach electronic device or accessory unit with uniquescrambling/unscrambling wave capabilities. As such, when a usertransfers an entire file to his device, say a cellular phone, for whichhe pays a fee, a scrambling wave, which may be a function of his uniquetelephone number, may be encrypted in the file. Upon playing the file,the user's cellular phone sends the corresponding unscrambling oppositewave. Other devices purchased by the same user may also include theunique scrambling/unscrambling wave encryption capabilities associatedwith the user's telephone number. As such, the files may only be playedwith clarity on the device or devices owned by the user, even if suchfiles are transferred to other devices.

[0052] The security lock mechanism allows the original music or itsrepresentative to control distribution of music, and also provides anopportunity for music distributors to keep track of who plays theirmusic. As such, a method of accounting for royalty payments to artistsand performers and other parties registered with performing rightsorganizations such as ASCAP and BMI may include providing a trackingfeature on electronic devices used by businesses such as bars,restaurants, and clubs to play music. In addition to allowing a recordto be kept as to which music files have been downloaded and stored onthe electronic device, the tracking feature may also record informationon how many times and when each song has been played. This allowsperforming rights or music writers organizations the ability to keep anaccurate record on which to base royalty payment distributions.

[0053] An electronic device having stored sound or image clips mayinclude various features which allow the user to preprogram the clips toplay in a set sequence or a random order. (For example, certain clipswhich may be from the same or different songs may play in a congruous orback-to-back order with a fixed silence time between the clips.)Additionally, the device may have features allowing the user to classifyand arrange the clips based on categories such as the type of clip(i.e., movie, song, etc.), artist name, time period, etc.

[0054] Thus, a user of an electronic device utilizing the clipsaccording to the present invention will be able to arrange the clipseither through a website from which the clips can be downloaded onto thedevice, or through the device itself.

[0055] Additionally, after listening to or viewing a clip, the user canchoose to download the entire file from where the clip originated (i.e.the entire movie, song, etc.). The server providing the clips and thefiles may provide the clips for free or for a small fee as inducementfor the consumer to ultimately download the entire file for which agreater fee may be charged.

[0056] An electronic device according to the present invention may alsohave the ability to receive clips which are directly transmitted ontothe electronic device via audio or visual broadcasts. The user of anelectronic device may program the device to sound a specified broadcastas an alert sound. For example, a sound segment from a live radio show(i.e., a sports show or a commercial) may be used to ring a cellularphone by either the caller or the callee.

[0057] Advertisements may also be transmitted through the electronicdevices according to the present invention. A message such as “pick upthe phone and don't forget to drink Coca Cola™” may be used to alert ofan incoming call. Such transmitted advertising messages need notnecessarily function as alerts.

[0058] Additionally, this invention contemplates the use of image andsound clips which can be combined such that the user can create a uniqueclip of both sound and image for use in electronic devices havingdisplay screens. For example, a phone having an appropriate displayscreen can be preprogrammed to display a visual clip of a calleraccompanied by sound, or a computer alert may display an image clip withsound. An image clip may comprise a single image frame or a picture clipas well as an animation.

[0059] Website to be used as a Support Tool for Downloading Clips toElectronic Devices and Method for Selling

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, a website for downloadingsound and/or image clips holds a library of clips, each clip having aspecific identifying code or icon which may include, for example, thetitle of a musical composition or movie from where the clip originated,the name of the artist, a code number, or other type of identificationdepending on the type of clip. For example, a song clip may be listed asbarrywhite@lovestuff.wav, or may display the picture of the song artistor CD cover of the CD on which the song appears, along with the name ofthe song. The list may be organized according to the artist's name, bymusic classification (i.e., pop, jazz, R&B, hip hop, etc.), by length ofthe sound clip, by the type of sound clip (i.e., song, piano music,guitar music, loud, quiet, etc.), or any combination of these categoriesor other conventional categories depending on the type of clip (image orsound). The website may also include categories of longer clips whichmay be more suitable for phone rings, and shorter clips which may bemore suitable for computer alerts. The website may further contain asuggested list of weekly or daily favorite clip picks, which may beprovided for each category or subcategory. Additionally, items orsubcategories in a given category may be organized alphabetically, byyear of copyright, or any other conventional order.

[0061] Tables 1 and 2 are examples of possible arrangements for soundclips using music classification and artist name. Note that the listingsof Table 1 such as barrywhite@lovestuff.wav are not websites, but usesymbols associated with web use, such symbols being one of the manyarbitrary ways of listing the clips. The symbol-driven website-likelistings may end with other non-domain suffixes such as “.pop”, “.song”,etc. Additionally, this invention contemplates the use of websitehyperlinks associated with each listing as shown below in Tables 1 and2. TABLE 1 R&B Jazz Rock Barry White Herb Alpert ChicagoBarrywhite@lovestuff herbalpert@sunspots.pop Chicago@feelings.wavBarrywhite@deepvox herbalpert@datingame. Chicago@time.wav pop

[0062] TABLE 2 R&B Jazz Rock Barry White Herb Alpert Chicago BW-01A-Sexy HA-01 A-Date C-01 A-Begin BW-02 A-Love HA-02 A-Bull C-02 A-SearchBW-03 A-Peace HA-03 A-101 C-03 A-Color

[0063] The clips may also have an identifying number associated witheach clip. Such identifying numbers may be used in downloading the clipsto an electronic device using a telephone (described below) or otherdevice having a number keypad. The website may further include a virtualpersonal locker or storage area for storing a selection of clipspersonal to a user which can be accessed on the website by a unique useridentification name or code. As such, a user can store clips for laterpurchasing, downloading to the user's cellular phone, playing, etc. Thewebsite may also allow the user to upload personal clips such as familyphotos, voice recordings, home movies, and the like, to the storagelocker for later downloading to the user's cellular phone or otherelectronic equipment. The storage locker may include an organizer forstoring the clips in alphabetical order, by various categories, or anyother order.

[0064] The website may allow for direct downloads of the clips from thewebsite to the computer itself or to other electronic devices.

[0065] To illustrate how downloading through the website may be carriedout, a user operating the computer may drag his/her mouse over thevarious listed sound or image clips and click on one or more selectedclips. Thereafter, a box can appear prompting the user to select theappropriate electronic device onto which the clip or clips are to bedownloaded (e.g., the box may say “CELLULAR PHONE DOWNLOAD OR COMPUTERALERT DOWNLOAD?” Assuming that the “CELLULAR PHONE DOWNLOAD” button isselected, a prompt for typing in the appropriate cellular phone numberwill follow. Thereafter, the selected clip or clips may be uploaded tothe user's personal locker and made available for downloading to theuser's handset.

[0066] Other features may also be included, such as an option allowingthe user to arrange multiple downloads in a specific order, create afolder for grouping multiple downloads, or a feature incorporated intothe phone which causes it to ring a selected clip immediately after ithas been downloaded. Additionally, clips, which have been previouslydownloaded to the phone may be deleted, rearranged, or reclassified withor without using the website. (There are other methods for storing clipson an electronic device such as a cellular phone, some of which aredescribed below, including direct downloading access for phones withoutthe need for web phone access capabilities).

[0067] Alternatively, by clicking “COMPUTER ALERT DOWNLOAD,” theselected clip will be downloaded to the user's computer, allowing theuser to select many different sound and image clips for computer alerts,such as e-mail notification, computer alarm clock, and computer calendarnotification.

[0068] Additionally, multiple clips may be associated with one type ofalert, such that a different clip is played for each alert event. Theuser will be able to rotate alert clips and preprogram or randomizetheir order similar to a CD stereo carousel.

[0069] The user will also be able to hear or view a selected clip whichwill play on the website upon the user's command. Browsing capabilitieswherein the user can drag his mouse over the sound clips library ofselections and hear the clips without having to click or open a file maybe included in the website. According to a preferred embodiment, a usersimply drags his mouse over various clip samples, which light up orflash and play one at a time. Any time the user places the cursor over acategory of music, the first tune in that category plays, and the iconrepresenting that category of music switches to display the name of theartist and title of the song or composition being played. Once the userclicks upon that icon, he can select the next song and hear the songwhile at the same time seeing the name of the artist and song title. Theuser can cycle through all the songs within that category using thisapproach very quickly to not only browse but to also hear the music. Ifthe user does not wish to switch over to another category of music, hesimply moves the cursor to another icon and repeats this procedure. Toselect a particular song the user double clicks on the song, which isthen included in a collection of selected songs to be downloaded later.

[0070] The website may be used as a shopping forum where consumers canhear or view the clips and click to buy items associated with the clipssuch as music records, cassette tapes and CD's, DVD's, and movie videos,or download the entire sound or image file to their computer for a fee.By allowing the user to sample and download clips for use as alerts inelectronic devices, the website will provide an attractive forum forselling items associated with the sound and image clips, and forallowing the user to download the entire file associated with the clip,for which a fee may be charged.

[0071] Additionally, an identifying mini icon such as the song title orrecording artist CD icon associated with a clip or with a group of clipsmay appear on the computer screen at a fixed location and/or at thescreen display where the clip plays a computer alert. The icon mayinclude a “buy” button which will allow the user to purchase an itemassociated with the clip, or download the entire file from which theclip originated by clicking on the button. Such “buy” button may be ahyperlink to a website for transacting the purchase. W//here a CD iconis not used, the user may click on the song title to purchase an itemassociated with the clip. If the clip comes form a song that exists onmore than one CD, the customer will see more than one CD cover to choosewhich CD to buy.

[0072] The utility of clips as alerts for electronic equipment willprovide consumers with incentive to browse the website and sample theclips. After hearing or viewing the clip, consumers may be induced topurchase items associated with the clips, which they will be able to doinstantaneously through the website by the click of their mouse.

[0073] The website may further be used as a contest forum. The websitemay be set up to play mystery clips or short segments of soundrecordings which contestants will have to identify in order to win aprize (i.e., by being the first to e-mail or call with the correctanswer). Thus, a radio show may set up a game where a short segment of asound clip is played on the radio or user's phone for contestants toguess and is also available for the listeners who want to hear it againon the website.

[0074] The website may include forwarding capabilities, such that asound or image clip can be forwarded as a greeting to a friend. (Thesecurity feature may be used only to prevent transferring of entirefiles). Consequently, the website will attract customers for the purposeof downloading clips to electronic devices and ultimately purchasingitems associated with the clips. Additionally, the user may subscribe toa service such as an existing cell phone service provider fordownloading files through their telephone, without having to be online.

[0075] The user may also create a clip (e.g. by recording a song orpersonal clip) and store the clip onto a sound storage element in theelectronic device. Additionally, the electronic device can bepreprogrammed with clips selected by the manufacturer retailer of thedevice.

[0076] Accessing of Sound and/or Image Files Without Access to Internet

[0077] Sound and/or image files which include clips may be downloadedwithout use of the Internet by allowing a user to access a library ofclips via their cellular phone or home telephone or providing otherelectronic devices with features which allow automatic access to thelibrary. (Although Internet free accessing will be described withrespect to a telephone, it is to be understood that the method describemay be compatible with any electronic device preferably having accessingcapabilities similar to a telephone).

[0078] The library may be a non-web holding unit that has files withassociated codes which match the codes associated with the files on thewebsite, wherein the website serves as a usable guide for identifyingvarious files according to associated codes, such as numerical codes toassist the user in downloading files using voice commands or keypadcommands.

[0079] Additionally, cellular phone or home telephone users may access anon-web holding unit with a library of stored files which can similarlybe browsed, selected, and downloaded onto the phone using user voicecommands, key pad commands, or by connection to a live operator. Suchunit may be accessed by dialing a phone number (e.g., an 800 number).Home telephones and cellular phones may have separate holding units,such as a satellite for cellular phones and a ground unit for homephones, or a satellite can be used by cellular phones to access a groundholding unit.

[0080] To facilitate selection of the files from such holding unit, theaccess system may provide for a code associated with each file which maybe obtained by browsing the website as described above. As such, a userconnected to the holding unit would access the code associated with thefile to select and download the file to the user's telephone.

[0081] Many other methods allowing a user to select files from theholding unit are possible. For example, the telephone may include avoice recognition feature, wherein the user can say the name or part ofthe name of the song he wishes to select (e.g., “Strawberry Fields” orthe name of the song artist). The phone may also utilize hierarchicalsubmenus whereby the user may press dial keys with letters correspondingto a selection in a given category which ultimately leads to theselection of a particular song. A phone having a screen display forproviding a text listing of the names of songs or categories, accordingto hierarchical submenus, may also be used for enabling the user tonarrow down to a list of songs and/or artists from which he can make hisfinal selection.

[0082] A telephone may likewise be used to deliver files stored on thephone to a website, an e-mail address, another telephone, or otherelectronic device. Sound clips, which are segments of whole songs,musical compositions or other sound recordings, will be used mostly withtelephones, however, downloading entire music or image files may also bedone, subject to the security feature described above. Additionalrevenues may be generated as the consumer accesses the content libraryand uses airtime while browsing and downloading clips or entire songsfrom the library holding unit.

[0083] Furthermore, cellular phone and home telephone service providersmay offer extra features to phone subscribers which would allow thesubscribers to download and store sound files for use with the telephonein accordance with the present invention. Such features by serviceproviders may include a personal sound file storage box (which may be afile of clips and/or entire sound files) that the user can access via apersonal code. The user may be charged a monthly fee for a subscriptionto the service, and/or per downloading of each song, whether or not theuser is a subscriber. Additional revenue can be generated by the serviceprovider even if the service is provided without a special charge sinceconsumers will use more airtime.

[0084] Telephone Using Sound Clips

[0085] A telephone having stored sound clips which may comprise realmusic including human voice, various instrument sounds, and other soundeffects may allow the user to select one sound clip or a rotation ofseveral clips to “ring” the phone. Although it is preferable to ring thetelephone with sound clips, an entire music file may also be used,whereby for example, a song may start playing and continue until theuser picks up the telephone. (Of course, entire music files may beplayed on the telephone solely for the user's listening pleasure). Thetelephone may also be programmed to ring a conventional chime if theuser so chooses. Such a telephone may utilize a storage chip carryingstored sound clips as well as the conventional phone chime programmedonto it.

[0086] Additionally, the telephone may allow the user to determine howmany times a clip is repeatedly played for each ring, and the time delaybetween clips in a given ring. The user may also choose to mix differentclips in one ring. A telephone may also include a looping feature whichrings the telephone in a looped clip such that the clip plays repeatedlywithout a pause between repetitions of the clip, or a “cluster” featurewhich rings a “cluster clip” comprising a multiple number of clipsegments from a single song, musical composition, or other soundrecording played in sequence.

[0087] Other features will allow the telephone user to preprogram thetelephone to play a certain clip when a specific individual calls,thereby allowing the user to identify the caller based on the chosensound clip. Each person who regularly calls the user may have a uniqueidentifying ring. This will allow a telephone user to have the option ofassigning a unique sound caller ID to each of an unlimited number ofcallers. Other features may include allowing a caller to select his ownpersonal sound clip to “ring” the telephone of the recipient of thecall. (For example, the caller may sing or record a “Happy Birthday”song.) Also, a telephone used by more than one user may utilize soundclips for a callee ID function wherein the caller identifies theintended callee (e.g., by dialing a digit or sequence of digits) and thetelephone plays the clip associated with the callee.

[0088] Additionally, a telephone may be provided with a “caller messagerecorder feature” which allows the caller to record his/her own messageto send to the number dialed. For example, the caller may send a messagesuch as “Hey John. It's Mary. Pick up the phone,” by pressing a “recordring” button on his/her phone to send such a message to John's phone. Asdescribed earlier, the telephone user, say John, may have a caller IDfeature such that when a certain caller, say Mary calls, the telephonerings with a predetermined message or sound clip selected by John. Theadditional caller message recorder feature may cause John's telephone toplay Mary's message instead of overlaying the predetermined caller IDmessage or clip. Additionally, John may record his own message such as“It's Mary” and associate that recorded message with Mary's phone numberfor a caller ID ring.

[0089] A telephone, according to the present invention, may also includea “sensory feature” for enabling the telephone to sense the level ofambient noise and adjust the loudness of the “ring” accordingly. If thephone “senses” very loud background noise, for example, a cellular phonelocated in a loud restaurant, the ring volume will increase. A featurefor detecting whether a cellular phone is located in a pocket book or aplace where the “ring” sound may be muffled is also contemplated. Thisfeature will also enable the phone to adjust the volume of the“ring”such that the“ring” will be loud enough for the user to hear. Suchdetection mechanism can be achieved by detecting ambient light and otherconditions.

[0090] Additionally, the user may manually adjust the volume of the ringvia a tunable volume control mechanism or a multiple fixed settingscontrol. (Although the above features are described with respect to aphone, it is to be understood that these features may also be providedwith other electronic devices utilizing sound and/or image clips asalerts where applicable).

[0091] Transmission System for Delivery Clips to a Telephone

[0092]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating the basic componentsfor a wireless transmission system 100 for a telephone 102, having awireless or landline service provider.

[0093] The system is described in terms of two main components: astorage chip 104, and a server 106. The storage chip 104 is an elementassociated with the telephone which may be embedded into the phone orinto an accessory unit which attaches to the phone, having abilities tointerface with the phone. The existing hardware of a cellular phone mayalso be integrated with a software system which may be downloaded to theRAM element of the cell phone for incorporating the present invention,without the need for extra hardware. As such, the existing hardware ofthe cellular phone may be made to perform the same function of the chip.

[0094] The purpose of the chip 104 is to store a selection of clips,allow for downloading of clips to be stored on the chip 104, and allowfor the playback of clips, either by the telephone or the chip 104.(Although the description herein refers to sound clips, it is to benoted that entire sound files may be stored, downloaded, and played,according to the system described). Additionally, the chip 104 canassociate the stored clips with a caller ID so that the particular clipto be played back is determined by the calling subscriber ID.

[0095] The server 106, which is associated with a collection of storedclip files 108, is designed to execute requests of the chip 104, whichmay be given through user voice commands or commands using the phonekeys. The server may be equipped with a voice adapter 110 for supportingthe ITU-T V.253 standard and telephone lines attached to the voiceadapter. The voice adapter can also support some standard modemprotocols, like V.32 or V.34, if required for compatibility.

[0096] The server 106 also allows for files to be transmitted to thechip 104 for storage. The system 100 enables a connection to the server106 upon a request from the chip 104, utilizing the phone, and/or PSTN(Public Switched Telephone Network), and/or a voice card (voice modem)attached to the server computer.

[0097] The system may have a voice menu, which, after connection to theserver 106, allows the user to listen to the server's menu and navigatethrough the system of voice menus using the telephone's Dual Tone MultiFrequence (DTMF) keys. The system may allow the user to select anddownload clips by allowing the user to listen to the clips presented bythe server 106, select a clip, and issue a download command to theserver 106. The server then sends the selected clip (e.g. in digitalcompressed form) using a Custom Data Transmission Protocol (CDTP) overthe voice channel. (Illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 12).

[0098] The system 100 allows for storage of a large number of clip filesin the chip's memory. The system's server 106 utilizes a musiccompression algorithm, shown in FIG. 15, which converts common musicfiles into compressed files that are downloaded and stored by the chip106. For example, a chip supporting the storage of about 1000 clips,each being approximately a few minutes in length, may have a flashmemory size of about 40 Mbytes. The chip 104 may also have a soundoutput element such as speakers.

[0099] The server comprises software which can run under Windows 98,Windows-NT OS, or other suitable system using a voice modem forcommunications. Additionally, the system may use a single modem or apool of several modems.

[0100] Preferable Embodiments for a Telephone System

[0101] Examples of telephone systems utilizing the method of the presentinvention include a cellular phone which may utilize an analogue(voice-only) system or a digital system, and a conventional land linetelephony network. A system for using a cellular network infrastructureis shown in FIG. 2. A schematic diagram of a landline transmissionsystem for a home telephone is shown in FIG. 12. (Again, although thefollowing descriptions make reference to the use of sound clips, it isto be understood that entire sound files may also be used as described).

[0102] All described examples assume existence of a server preferablydedicated for servicing user requests and providing sound clip datadownload capabilities. A corresponding chip, implementing all requiredfunctions is associated with the telephone.

[0103] The server may be a computer running Microsoft Windows or othersuitable environment, such as a Pentium-III PC, Win95/98/NT/2000, 128 MbRAM, 4 GB HDD. The server may store or be capable of accessing a soundclip database, which may be stored on a website or non-web holding unit.The sound clip database is stored in a compressed file format of thosecommonly known.

[0104] A schematic diagram for a server software system is shown in FIG.4 for a cellular phone system, and FIG. 14 for a landline system. Thesoftware may be written in C++under Microsoft Windows or other suitablelanguage. The functions of the server software include servicing userrequests via a user interface element and transmitting a selected soundclip through the phone line via a music clip transmission element.

[0105] According to a preferred embodiment, the functions of the userinterface element include decoding DTMF keys pressed by the user andplaying the voice menu labels to the user. The voice menu interface mayinclude hierarchical submenus, leading to different functions. In allexamples, the user interface element can be unified in the sense thatthe voice interface and DTMF or voice recognition-based interface areindependent of the type of network or type of phone(s) used.Implementations that utilize a single server to process requestsoriginating from different types of networks and/or phones can thereforebe built.

[0106] The system of submenus leads a user to the downloading of theselected sound clip. Thereafter, control is transferred to the musicclip transmission element for downloading sound clips into the phone.The music clip transmission element interfaces directly with the phoneaccessory unit, independent of the user. The music clip transmissionelement is dependent on the type of the phone used and the networkinfrastructure.

[0107] Example Transmission System for a Cellular Phone and Network

[0108]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wireless transmission system200 for a cellular phone 202, which may be either an analogue(voice-only) or digital system. In both cases, a specialized board 203,implementing all required functions, similar to the chip 104, isincorporated in an accessory unit 204 attached to the cellular phone.Although the system 200 is described as incorporating an accessory unit,it should be understood that a chip performing the same functions of theboard may instead be embedded in the phone itself, or a software systemmay be integrated with the existing hardware chip of a conventionalcellular phone without the need for additional hardware. The system 200further includes a server 206 and software 207 for the server.

[0109] The cellular telephone 202 may be any commercially availablecellular phone having capabilities for supporting a command set forgeneral telephone control, [i.e., a V.25 Ter serial asynchronousautomatic dialing and control as recommended by the ITU-T (InternationalTelecommunication Union—Telecommunication sector)] and for supportingV.25 Ter “+C” extensions according to the ETSI (EuropeanTelecommunications Standards Institute) ETS-300-916 standard forobtaining codes of keys pressed by the user and for receiving caller IDinformation. Additionally, the phone 202 should have capabilities forsubscribing to a cellular provider 208 with caller ID service support.

[0110] A schematic diagram of the board 203 is shown in FIG. 3. In anembodiment where an accessory unit is used the board 203 is implementedin the accessory unit 204 which can be attached to the phone 202 througha standard extension connector where other commercially availableaccessories such as a hands free ear set and charging adapter aretypically connected.

[0111] The board 203 includes the following main blocks: a DigitalSignal Processor (DSP) 300, a flash memory element 302, a Random AccessMemory (RAM) element 304, an initial bootstrap chip 306, an analogueinterface element 308, and a digital interface element 310.

[0112] The processor 300 executes the device firmware, provides controlfor all other blocks and performs the computational tasks for the board203. The tasks performed by the processor 300 include control of theboard's units, monitoring of keys pressed by the user and processing ofkey-press events, reception of information from the computer through thecomputer digital interface, reception of caller ID information throughthe phone digital interface, reception of packed sound clips through thephone analogue or digital interface, unpacking and then playing backsound clips through a built-in speaker connected to the analogueinterface of the accessory unit 204, support of a voice menu-driven userinterface, and performance of other auxiliary functions.

[0113] The flash memory element 302 contains the device firmware, andsound clips which can be pre-loaded as well as downloaded from theserver. The RAM element 304 enables the processor to run faster and alsoholds buffers for unpacked sound fragments and processor serviceprocedures. When the power is turned on, the initial bootstrap chip 306loads the device.

[0114] The analogue interface element 308 includes a phone interfaceelement 312 and a built-in speaker interface element 314. The phoneinterface element 312 is used for input and output of signals whendownloading sound clips from the server 206. The speaker interfaceelement 314, with the speaker, plays all system sounds heard by the userincluding voice menus and sound clips.

[0115] The digital interface element 310 includes a phone interfaceelement 316 and may include a computer interface element 318. The phoneinterface element 316 is used for phone control and for receiving keycodes and caller ID information from the phone. The computer interfaceelement 318 is used for various service functions such as downloadingpreprogrammed sound clips from the computer to the flash memory.

[0116] The functions of the server software, shown in FIG. 4, includeservicing a user's requests via a user interface element 402 andtransmitting a selected sound clip through the phone line 404 via amusic clip transmission element 406.

[0117] A user interface element 402 is provided whose functions includedecoding DTMF keys pressed by the user and playing the voice menu labelsto the user. The voice menu interface may include hierarchical submenuswhich lead to the downloading of the selected sound clip. Thereafter,control is transferred to the music clip transmission element 406 fordownloading sound clips into the phone. The music clip transmissionelement 406 interfaces directly with the phone accessory unit,independent of the user.

[0118] The selected sound clip may be transmitted through the phone lineto the accessory unit 204 first through the server hard drive 408, thenthrough the server software 207, next through the voice adapter 210,then through the phone line of the network to the cellular serviceprovider 208, to the cellular phone 202, and through the analogueinterface 308 of the accessory unit 204, then through the processor 300of the accessory unit 204, and finally, through the flash memory element302 of the accessory unit 204. When the sound clip transmission iscompleted, the task of the music clip transmission element is completed.Thereafter, the phone line 404 is released and control is transferred tothe user interface element 402.

[0119] In an autonomous mode, the board 203 may contain a number ofpre-loaded sound clips. Initially, the board 203 is in the inactivestate. The board 203 and phone 202 interact such that the phone sends tothe board codes of all the keys pressed by the user. Upon receiving aparticular sequence of codes or when, for instance, a particular key ispressed for a prolonged period of time, the board 203 switches to theactive mode. In the active mode the board 203 may interact with the uservia a voice menu-driven interface where voice messages, via a speaker,prompt the user to respond by pressing a selection of phone keysindicating the user's responsive selections. The board 203 reacts to theuser's selections by analyzing the keys being pressed.

[0120] The clips are stored on an internal clip index which can beretrieved from the internal memory and played back according to keycommands provided by the user. Examples of voice menu options providedby the device 204 through a speaker upon switching to an active modeinclude: 1) the user may choose to exit the active mode and enter thepassive mode (e.g., by pressing “0”); 2) the user may choose to listento the current sound clip on the clip index (e.g., by pressing “1”); 3)the user may choose to listen to the next clip on the index (e.g., bypressing “2”); 4) the user may choose to listen to a previous clip onthe index (e.g., by pressing “3”); or 5) the user may choose to assign acaller ID number to the current clip on the index (e.g., by pressing“4”).

[0121] Upon choosing to assign a caller ID phone number to the currentclip, the device may switch to a sub mode with a sub-menu having thefollowing options: 1) the user may choose to switch back to the previousmenu (e.g., by pressing “0”); 2) if the selected clip was alreadyassigned, the user may choose to get information regarding the caller IDalready associated with the clip (e.g., by pressing “1”); or 3) the usermay input a new caller ID phone number for the current clip (e.g., bypressing “2” indicating this choice, then dialing in the phone numberfollowed by the “#” sign).

[0122] In the passive mode, the device 204 may analyze messages beingreceived from the telephone 202. Upon receiving an incoming call, thedevice 204 checks the incoming caller's phone number against the list ofassigned caller ID sound clips in its memory and plays back theparticular sound clip through the built-in speaker if the specifiedcaller's phone number was assigned to this clip. Alternatively, thedevice 204 may play back a default sound if the particular caller ID wasnot assigned to any clip.

[0123] In order to transfer digitally compressed sound clip data throughthe analogue channel a special method and algorithm to map digits tosounds is used. This method is implemented not only for a cellulartelephone using an analogue cellular network but also for a landlinetransmission system of a home phone, shown in FIG. 12.

[0124] Method for Data Transmission Over an Audio Channel of a WirelessTelephone

[0125] A data transmission method 500 for transferring data through thephone line and the receiver, based on a voice mode connection (versusdata mode) and DTMF signal interpretation is illustrated in FIG. 5. Asimilar approach can be implemented for a landline telephone that doesnot have a data transmission mode.

[0126] For transmitting data through the phone line, the transmissionmethod 500 comprises the steps of a) data scrambling 502, b) datamapping 504, c) conversion of frequency symbols to time samples 506, d)addition of cyclic prefix 508, and e) digital to analogue conversion510. The data is then sent through the receiver, following the reversesteps of f) analogue to digital conversion 512, g) symbolsynchronization 514, h) conversion of time samples to frequency symbols516, i) decoding frequency symbols to bits 518, and j) descrambling thedata 520.

[0127] The transmission method is used to provide enough speed for thedata transmission. The transmission method allows simultaneous use ofthe voice communication and data transmission features (during oneconnection session) without having to switch the mode of connection. Acustomer does not need to use a Wireless Internet Service Provider. Auser can simply place a regular call to the specific number (e.g., an“800” number) to gain access to the Server. The dual-mode connectionallows for voice and “push button” support as well as voice recognitionservice.

[0128] An orthogonal frequency-division multiplex (OFDM) modulationscheme is used for data transmission. The benefits of OFDM include: 1)the modulation can be made robust to Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) byincreasing symbol size; 2) the modulation can be made robust to impulsenoise by increasing symbol size; 3) for each individual sub-channel, thechannel's response could be considered essentially flat, minimizing theneed for channel equalization; and 4) different encoding schemes couldbe used for different sub-channels, for accommodatingfrequency-selective channel distortions.

[0129] The total bandwidth to be used by the method is determined by theworst case of supported audio channel. A suitable algorithm forcompression of the voice channel is the GSM RPE-LTP algorithm whichessentially has a built-in down-sampling by a factor of 3 in which theallowed bandwidth is limited at 4000/3=1333 Hz. Usually channel responseis severely limited at frequencies below about 200 Hz to 250 Hz. No OFDMsymbol time-windowing is employed to minimize variations of transmittedsignal amplitude envelope.

[0130] A compressed voice channel can also introduce significantnon-linear distortions. Therefore, it is not feasible to have a largenumber of sub-channels; otherwise the algorithm would be affected bysignificant inter-channel interference (ICI) due to loss oforthogonality between sub-channels. About 32 sub-channels appear toprovide enough symbol size while maintaining satisfactory low ICI.

[0131] Modulation Symbol Structure

[0132] Each OFDM symbol consists of a minimum number of samplessufficient to represent all sub-channels. To increase computationefficiency, a Fast Fourier Transform is employed to convert sub-channelsymbols from frequency to time area. Therefore, for 32 sub-channels,OFDM symbol size should be at least 64 real samples (at 2666 Hz rate). Acircular prefix of 16 samples is used to improve separation betweensymbols, and minimize ISI (Inter Symbol Interference) and ICI.Therefore, total symbol size is 80 samples at 2666 Hz.

[0133] Receiver Synchronization

[0134] Circular extension prefix redundancy, present in the signal, isused to facilitate OFDM symbol synchronization in the receiver. Asynchronization subsystem effectively computes auto-correlationcoefficients of the received sequence (e.g., at 2666 Hz). The output ofthe correlator goes through a “rectifying” phase-locked loop-like systemwhich outputs synchronization impulses at the proper time instants tosample OFDM symbols correctly.

[0135] Synchronization system induced timing jitter leads to rotation ofreceived sub-channel phasors by increments, proportional to the centralfrequency of a particular sub-channel. This rotation is compensated inthe decision scheme.

[0136] Data Mapping

[0137] The output of a scrambler is mapped onto complex symbols(amplitude/phase) of the OFDM sub-channels. Individual sub-channels useQPSK (Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) modulation.

[0138] Data Scrambling

[0139] Data scrambling is employed in order to provide statisticallyrandom distribution of transmitted symbols to reduce peak-to-averagepower ratio of OFDM symbols. A self-synchronizing scrambler withgenerating polynomial of is 1+x⁻¹⁸+x⁻²³ is used which, at thetransmitter, effectively divides the data sequence by the generatingpolynomial. The coefficients of the quotients, taken in descendingorder, form the output data sequence.

[0140] Example Using Analogue Cellular Network and Cellular Telephone

[0141] The above-described accessory unit 204 is provided in thisexample in the context of analogue (providing only voice channel)cellular network.

[0142] Initially, the device 204 is in an inactive mode. A user dialsthe server number and, navigating through a system of voice menussupported by the server software, listens to and selects a particularsound clip in the same way as browsing the loaded sound clips in theautonomous mode. Instead of assigning a caller ID, the user may chooseto download sound clips.

[0143] When a user, navigating through the server voice menus, selectsto download the current clip and in the embodiment using an accessoryunit activates the accessory unit 204 through the predefined keysequence, the process of transmission of the selected sound clip isinitiated. After selecting a “download” option, the user may press aspecific key combination on the phone to switch the accessory unit 204from the inactive to the active mode. The unit 204 then begins tointeract with the server 206, using the analogue channel provided by thephone and network. The already established phone connection is used toreceive information. The device may receive the sound clip selected bythe user and download it into internal flash memory.

[0144] At the end of a session, the unit 204 forces the telephone 202 tohang up and switches to the autonomous mode which enables the user toassign a new caller ID to the sound clip just received. When a user,navigating through the server voice menus, selects to download a clipand activates the accessory unit 204 through the pre-defined keysequence, the process for transmission of the selected sound clip isinitiated.

[0145] The selected sound clip is transmitted through the phone line tothe accessory unit 204 first through the server hard drive 408, thenthrough the server software 207, next through the voice adapter 210,then through the phone line of the network to the cellular serviceprovider 208, to the cellular phone 202, and through the analogueinterface 308 of the accessory unit 204, then through the processor 300of the accessory unit 204, and finally, through the flash memory element302 of the accessory unit 204.

[0146] Generally, the server software 207 retrieves the selected soundclip from a database 212, converts it to the special sequence of soundsmodulates, transfers codes of these sounds to the voice adapter 210 thatconverts these codes to actual sounds and transfers these sounds to thephone line 214. From the phone line 214, the sounds go to a cellularprovider 208 through to a radio channel, and to the cellular phone 202itself (much like voice sounds are transferred during a normal phoneconversation). The sounds then go through the connector and are receivedin analogue form by the board 203. The sounds are then converted by thedevice ADC (Analog to Digital Converter) to the digital form and areprocessed by the DSP (digital signal processor—“demodulated”) 300 to thesame digital data form initially stored on the database 212 (e.g., inMPEG audio format). In this form, the sound clip data are written intothe flash memory 302 of the device 204.

[0147] Following a reverse direction, going from the board 203 to theserver 206 using the same chain, the device sends to the server eitheran “acknowledgement” of a successful delivery of the sound clip data ora list of data blocks received with errors so that these blocks can beresent in a second try. In order to transmit digital data through theanalogue channel, a similar procedure is used to convert data to soundsand back.

[0148] When all the data is transferred without errors, the board 203signals to the server 206 that the call may be disconnected. Thereafter,the server 206 instructs the voice adapter 210 to hang up, freeing thephone line for another client, and the board 203 switches to theautonomous mode, allowing the user to assign a caller ID to the soundclip most recently downloaded.

[0149] Example Using Digital Cellular Network and Cellular Telephone

[0150] The above-described accessory unit 204 is used in this example inthe context of digital (capable of providing a dedicated datatransmission channel) cellular network. Since in this case a digitalchannel is used for sound clip data transmission, no modulation isrequired on the mobile phone side. The server, on the other hand, uses amodulation protocol compatible with the protocol supported by thecellular network provider. Usually this can be accomplished by using astandard ITU-T-approved modem, like V.32 or V.34.

[0151] Initially, the unit 204 is in an inactive mode. A user dials theserver number and, navigating through a system of voice menus supportedby the server software, listens to and selects a particular sound clipin the same way as browsing the loaded sound clips in the autonomousmode. Instead of assigning a caller ID, the user may choose to downloadsound clips.

[0152] When a user, navigating through the server voice menus, selectsto download the current clip and activates the accessory unit 204through the pre-defined key sequence, the process of transmission of theselected sound clip is initiated. After selecting a “download” option,the user may press a specific key combination on the phone to switch theaccessory unit 204 from the inactive to the active mode. The unit 204then begins to interact with the server 206, using the digital channelprovided by the phone and the network. If possible, the alreadyestablished phone connection is used, or a new connection is establishedspecifically for digital data transmission.

[0153] The selected sound clip is transmitted through the phone line tothe accessory unit 204 first through the server hard drive 408, thenthrough the server software 207, next through the voice adapter-modem210, then through the phone line of the network to the cellular serviceprovider 208, to the cellular phone 202, and through the digitalinterface of the accessory unit 204, then through the processor 300 ofthe accessory unit 204, and finally, through the flash memory element302 of the accessory unit 204.

[0154] Generally, the server software 207 retrieves the selected soundclip from a database 212, transfers codes of these sounds to the voiceadapter-modem that converts these codes to actual sounds, using one ofthe standard modulation protocols supported by the cellular provider(like ITU-T V.32 or V.34) and transfers these sounds to the phone line214. From the phone line 214, the sounds go to a cellular provider 208,where they are demodulated back into digital data and then the data goesto the cellular phone 202, through the radio channel, using the digitalchannel provided by the cellular network. The data is then received bythe processor of the accessory unit, and then written into the flashmemory 302 of the device 204.

[0155] Following a reverse direction, going from the board 203 to theserver 206 using the same chain, the device sends the server either an“acknowledgement” of a successful delivery of the sound clip data or alist of data blocks received with errors so that these blocks can beresent in a second try. When all the data is transferred without errors,the board 203 signals to the server 206 that the call may bedisconnected. Thereafter, the server 206 instructs the voiceadapter-modem to hang up, freeing the phone line for another client, andthe board 203 switches to the autonomous mode, allowing the user to assign a caller ID to the sound clip most recently downloaded.

[0156] In order to provide a guaranteed and error-free delivery ofdigitally compressed sound clip data through the data channel providedby the phone and network, a special error detection and correctionmethod is proposed.

[0157] A Data Transmission Method with Error Correction Delivery

[0158] A method for data transmission with error correction assumes asufficiently low probability of error in the channel and implementserror correction by re-sending the affected data blocks. The data (i.e.the compressed sound clip) is split into smaller data blocks by theserver. Each block is supplied with a special header that, inparticular, includes the block number and a cyclic redundancy code wordfor error detection, computed for the block data and header. Other errordetection codes can also be utilized. The data blocks are then sentthrough the data channel sequentially. Using the redundancy code, thereceiver (i.e. the mobile device) checks the correctness of eachreceived block. The size of blocks is selected in such a way that 1)there is a high probability of error-free transmission of a block; and2) the overhead introduced by additional control information (e.g.header, CRC word) is not high compared to the data payload.

[0159] If the block size is selected properly, only a few blocks out ofthe entire sequence are usually affected by channel errors. Theseerroneous data blocks are re-sent by the Server upon receiving specialrequests.

[0160] Depending on the availability of bi-directional data transfer,one of two protocols can be used. If the phone and network supportsimultaneous transmission of data in both directions, a protocol thatuses simultaneous transmission of data in a server-to-phone directionand acknowledgements in a phone-to-server direction can be utilized. Inthis case, a special acknowledgement packet is sent for each valid datablock received by the device. If a block is received with an error, anegative acknowledgement packet is sent.

[0161] The sever software, receiving these control packets, either sendsthe next subsequent data block, until all data blocks are transferred,or resends the block received with error. When all data blocks aretransferred, and the positive acknowledgement is received for the lastblock, the sound clip is considered to be completely delivered. Anexample of such interaction is shown in FIG. 16 for a protocol withindividual packet acknowledgement for full-duplex channel, showing threedata blocks 1600, 1602, and 1604 for corresponding data, indicated inthe figure as “Data1 '“Data2” and “Data3”, with corresponding headers“Hdr1”, “Hdr2”, and “Hdr3”. Positive acknowledgements “Ack1” and Ack2 ”are sent for packets numbers 1 and 2. Packet number 3 is originallyreceived with an error, indicated by “Nack” and is subsequently re-sentto successfully correct the error, whereby a positive acknowledgement“Ack3” is sent.

[0162] If the phone or network supports only unidirectional datatransmission, the other protocol can be utilized to minimize the numberof channel direction alterations. In this case, all data blocks for thesound clip are sent at once by the server, without receivingacknowledgements for the individual packets. Then, a single controlpacket is transferred in the opposite (device to server) direction. Thiscontrol packet contains a bit mask, with one bit for each data blockreceived. Each bit in the bit mask has a “1” value if the correspondingdata block was received without errors, or a “0” value if thecorresponding block was affected by errors. The server then re-sendsthose blocks that were received with errors in the first pass. When alldata blocks are transferred, and the acknowledgement mask without errorsindication is received by the server, the sound clip is considered to becompletely delivered. Example of such interaction is shown in FIG. 17,where the packet number 2 is originally received with an error and issuccessfully re-sent subsequently to correct the error. Note that onlytwo “ACK” packets were sent during the entire procedure.

[0163] Example Using Landline Telephony Network and a Conventional HomeTelephone

[0164]FIG. 12 illustrates an example of a landline telephony networksystem 1200 using a voice channel and a conventional home telephone1201, according to a preferred embodiment. (Although this system isdescribed with respect to the accessing and delivery of sound clipfiles, it is to be understood that the system may be used for theaccessing and delivery of entire files).

[0165] The system 1200 has two main components: a home telephoneaccessory unit 1202 and a server 1205. The accessory unit 1202 is anautonomous unit, attached to the phone line 1208 and to the phone(between the line and the phone), and powered from the AC power outlet.A chip performing the same function of the accessory unit may instead beembedded in the phone itself The purpose of the accessory unit 1202 isto support selection, downloading, and playback of sound clips accordingto the Caller ID of the calling subscriber. The accessory unit 1202 mayinclude a speaker system and enables the phone to ring sound clips orperform other functions as described for the cellular phone 102.

[0166] The server 1205, which is associated with stored clip files 1206,which may be stored on a website or a non web holding unit, is designedto execute requests of the accessory unit 1202 either through user voicecommands or commands using the phone keys, and allows for files to betransmitted to the accessory unit 1202 for storage. The system 1200enables a connection to the server upon a request from the accessoryunit 1202, utilizing the phone and PSTN (Public Switched TelephoneNetwork), and an adapter 1204 (voice modem) attached to the servercomputer. The system 1200 may have a voice menu, which, after connectionto the server, allows the user to listen to the server's menu andnavigate through the system of voice menus using the phone's DTMF keys.The system may allow the user to select and download clips by allowingthe user to listen to the clips presented by the server, select a clip,and issue a download command to the server. The server then sends theselected clip (e.g., in digital compressed form) using the Custom DataTransmission Protocol (CDTP) over the voice channel.

[0167] The device 1204 may further interface with a home PC 1214 fordownloading sound files to the device. The interface may be a plug inconnection or may use a wireless network system.

[0168] The accessory unit 1204 may be sold as a unit compatible to mosthome phones including cordless phones, and may connect directly to thephone jack, with the phone connected to the device. Similar to thecellular phone 102, a home phone may include an embedded chip, insteadof the accessory unit 1204, for performing functions similar to those ofthe accessory unit 1204.

[0169] The handset of a cordless phone utilizing sound clips accordingto the present invention may ring simultaneously with the box, whereinthe handset may sound a regular phone ring or a sound clip ring, whilethe box plays a sound clip ring.

[0170] The server comprises software shown in FIG. 14, which can rununder Windows 98®, Windows-NT OS®, or other suitable system using avoice modem for communications. Additionally, the system may use asingle modem or a pool of several modems.

[0171] Initially, the accessory unit 1202 is in an inactive mode. A userdials the server number and, navigating through a system of voice menussupported by the server software, listens to and selects a particularsound clip in the same way as browsing the loaded sound clips in theautonomous mode. Instead of assigning a caller ID, the user may chooseto download sound clips.

[0172] When a user, navigating through the server voice menus, selectsto download the current clip and activates the accessory unit 1202through the pre-defined key sequence, the process of transmission of theselected sound clip is initiated. After selecting a “download” option,the user may press a specific key combination on the phone to switch theaccessory unit 1202 from the inactive to the active mode. The device1202 then begins to interact with the server 1205, using the analoguechannel provided by the telephone and the network. The alreadyestablished phone connection is used to receive information.

[0173] The selected sound clip is transmitted through the telephone lineto the accessory unit 1202 first through server 1205, next through theadapter 1204, then through the telephone line of the PSTN to and throughthe analogue interface 1305 of the accessory unit (shown in FIG. 13),then through the processor 1301 of the accessory unit 1202, and finally,through the flash memory element 1302 of the accessory unit 1202.

[0174] A schematic diagram of a board 1300 implemented in the accessoryunit 1202 is shown in FIG. 13. The board includes the following mainblocks: a processor element 1301 [e.g., a Digital Signal Processor(DSP)], a flash memory element 1302, a Random Access Memory (RAM)element 1303, a bootstrap chip 1304, an analogue interface element 1305,and a digital interface element 1306.

[0175] The processor 1301 executes the device firmware, provides controlfor all other blocks and performs the computational tasks for the board.The tasks performed by the processor 1301 include: control of theboard's units, monitoring of keys pressed by the user and processing ofkey-press events, reception of information from the computer through thecomputer digital interface, reception of caller ID information fromtelephony service provider, reception of sound clips through the phoneanalogue interface, unpacking and then playing back sound clips througha built-in speaker connected to the analogue interface of the accessoryunit 1202, support of a voice menu-driven user interface, andperformance of other auxiliary functions.

[0176] The flash memory element 1302 contains the device firmware, andthe sound clips which can be pre-loaded as well as downloaded from theserver. The RAM element 1303 enables the processor to run faster andalso holds buffers for unpacked sound fragments and processor serviceprocedures. When the power is turned on, the bootstrap chip 1304 loadsthe device.

[0177] The Analogue Interface element 1305 includes a telephoneinterface element and a built-in speaker interface element. Thetelephone interface element is used for input and output of signals whendownloading sound clips from the server 1205. The speaker interfaceelement with the speakers, plays all system sounds heard by the userincluding voice menus and sound clips.

[0178] The digital interface element 1306 may include a computerinterface element and other digital interface elements to the homenetwork. The computer interface element may be used for various servicefunctions such as downloading preprogrammed sound clips from thecomputer to the Flash Memory.

[0179] In an autonomous mode, the accessory unit 1202 contains a numberof pre-loaded sound clips. Initially, the accessory unit is in theinactive state. The accessory unit 1202 and telephone 1201 interact suchthat the telephone 1201 sends to the accessory unit 1202 codes of allthe keys pressed by the user. Upon receiving a particular sequence ofcodes or when, for instance, a particular key is pressed for a prolongedperiod of time, the accessory unit 1202 switches to the active mode. Inthe active mode, the accessory unit 1202 may interact with the user viaa voice menu-driven interface where voice messages, via a speaker,prompt the user to respond by pressing a selection of phone keysindicating the user's responsive selections. The accessory unit 1202reacts to the user's selections by analyzing the keys being pressed.

[0180] In the passive mode, the accessory unit 1202 may analyze messagesbeing received from the telephone 1201. Upon receiving an incoming call,the accessory unit 1202 checks the incoming caller's phone numberagainst the list of assigned caller ID sound clips in its memory andplays back the sound clip through the built-in speakers if the specifiedcaller's phone number was assigned to this clip. Alternatively, theaccessory unit 1202 may play back a default sound if the particularCaller ID was not assigned to any clip.

[0181] A schematic diagram of the server software is shown in FIG. 14.The server software is used for servicing user requests through userinterface element 1401, and transmitting the selected sound clip throughthe phone line via music clip transmission element 1402. The userinterface element 1401 decodes DTMF keys pressed by the user, and playsvoice menu labels to the user. The voice menu interface includeshierarchical submenus to lead the user to the downloading of the desiredsound clip, where control is transferred to the music clip transmissionelement 1401.

[0182] The music clip transmission element 1401 downloads sound clips tothe phone, independent of the user interface element, interfacingdirectly with the phone accessory unit. The music clip transmissionelement 1402 initially transmits the selected sound clip to the adapter1404 for data transmission from the server to the accessory unit. Whenthe sound clip transmission is completed, the task of the music cliptransmission element is done, and the telephone line is released andcontrol is transferred to the user interface element 1401

[0183] Generally, the server software retrieves the selected sound clipfrom a server database 1403, which is associated with an audio dataoptimization and compression element 1405, converts the clip to thespecial sequence of sounds modulates, and transfers codes of thesesounds to the adapter 1404 which converts these codes to actual soundsand transfers these sounds to the phone line 1406. From the phone line1406, the sounds go through the PSTN and are received in analogue formby the accessory unit 1202. The sounds are then converted by the deviceADC (Analog to Digital Converter) to the digital form and are processedby the DSP (digital signal processor) 1301 to the same digital data forminitially stored in the server database 1403 (e.g., in MPEG audioformat). In this form, the sound clip data are written into the flashmemory 1302 of the accessory unit 1202.

[0184] Following a reverse direction, going from the accessory unit 1202to the server 1205 using the same chain, the device sends to the servereither an “acknowledgement” of a successful delivery of the sound clipdata or a list of data blocks received with errors so that these blockscan be resent in a second try. In order to transmit digital data throughthe analogue channel, a similar procedure is used to convert data tosounds and back. When all the data is transferred without errors, theaccessory unit 1202 signals to the server 1205 that the call may bedisconnected. Thereafter, the server 1205 instructs the adapter 1204 tohang up, freeing the phone line for another client, and the accessoryunit 1202 switches to the autonomous mode, allowing the user to assign aCaller ID to the sound clip most recently downloaded.

[0185] The server audio data optimization and compression element 1205,utilizes a music compression algorithm outlined in FIG. 15, whichconverts common music files into compressed files in order to reduce theaudio clip size for minimizing its download time, while maintainingpredetermined audio quality. These files are downloaded and stored bythe accessory unit 1202.

[0186] Preferred Procedure for Audio Data Parametric Optimization andCompression

[0187] The method 1500 of compressing the files comprises the steps ofa) conversion 1502; b) amplitude normalization 1504; c) sample rateconversion 1506; d) pre-emphasis filtering 1508; e) amplitudenormalization 1510; and f) performance of MPEG audio layer 3 (MP3)compression with the selected parameters 1512. The compressed files arethen transferred to the server database.

[0188] Step 1502 of conversion to mono only needs to be performed if theinput file is in stereo and if the audio output subsystem of the targethardware is only capable of playing back mono audio. At this step allavailable information is included into the output audio by summing ofthe left and right channels to form a single mono output.

[0189] After conversion, or if the file does not need to be converted tomono, compression begins with the step 1504 of amplitude normalization,wherein sample amplitudes in the file are normalized. This step isrequired for enabling audio utilization of all available dynamic rangeand for improving the computational accuracy of subsequent steps. Inorder to maximize preservation of original audio range, a fixedcoefficient for the entire audio file normalization is used. Thecoefficient is obtained using input file analysis to “stretch” the inputaudio range over the maximum available range.

[0190] Step 1506 converts sample rate of audio files to selectedsampling frequency. The original audio clips may have various samplingrates (44100 Hz, 48000 Hz, 22050 Hz, 11025 Hz, etc.). After analysis ofavailable hardware capabilities an optimal sampling frequency, whichprovides the most adequate audio quality, is selected. Increasing thesampling frequency above the optimal sampling frequency would notsignificantly increase the perceptual audio quality, due to thelimitations of the audio output subsystem of the accessory unit. Forexample, for the cellular phone system of FIG. 2, after analysis ofavailable hardware capabilities and a series of perceptual tests, the22050 Hz sampling frequency was selected as providing the most adequateaudio quality since the audio output subsystem of the accessory unit hasa relatively sharp drop in response for frequencies above 10-12 kHz.

[0191] In order to avoid aliasing effects when changing from higher tolower sampling rate, a low-pass pre-filtering with a cutoff slightlylower than the new Nyquist frequency is applied before down sampling.For rates that are not multiples of each other, cascaded sampling rateconversion schemes are constructed to minimize memory consumption andimprove performance.

[0192] The step 1508 of pre-emphasis filtering, along with there-sampling of the previous stage, takes into account the specifics ofthe audio output subsystem of the accessory unit, to achieve improvementof the perceptual audio quality, and to reduce the resulting audio sizeafter compression.

[0193] Since the speaker of the audio output subsystem of accessory unitis preferably very small, the resulting sound has very low power in thelow frequency range. Therefore, providing output in the low frequencyrange is likely to be futile, as it would only increase the size ofaudio file without any perceptual improvements. Additionally, providingoutput in the low frequency range may create undesirable “overflow”effects for the speaker.

[0194] For example, for the cellular phone system of FIG. 2, allfrequency content below about 400 Hz is removed from the audio. In orderto make the audio more “perceptually rich” in the low-frequency range,frequencies around 600 Hz are increased by about +6 dB. The frequencyrange from 1200 Hz to 8200 Hz is kept unchanged. Then, starting fromabout 8200 Hz the signal power is gradually increased, up to +15 dB atthe highest frequency (11 kHz). This compensates for the drop in speakertransfer function at high frequencies and improves the listeningexperience.

[0195] A set of subjective audio perceptual tests with various types ofaudio contents, using the wide spectrum of hardware of the targetplatform has proved that the above-described pre-emphasis significantlyimproves the perceptual quality of resulting audio. At the same time,reducing frequency contents in the “non-significant” frequency regionsallows reduction of the resulting compressed audio size, since the databits are not allocated to non-used frequencies.

[0196] The described pre-emphasis procedure is implemented by afiltering with a FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filter, according to theformula: $y_{k} = {\sum\limits_{i = 0}^{N - 1}{b_{i} \cdot x_{k - i}}}$

[0197] where b₁ are filter coefficients,

[0198] x_(k) is the k-th output audio sample,

[0199] y_(k) is the k-th output audio sample.

[0200] The b₁ coefficients are fixed and computed for the particularsampling rate and the desired pre-emphasis response curve. The filtercan be designed to have a linear phase response (this is actuallyguaranteed if the b₁ coefficients are symmetric), which would ensureabsence of phase distortions to the audio. Since the delay introduced bythe filter is not harmful for off-line processing, the filter size canbe made rather large to approximate the desired response curve with ahigh precision.

[0201] After completing the step of pre-emphasis filtering,normalization of the sample amplitude is once again performed. Since thefiltering significantly changes the signal, the second amplitudenormalization step 1510 is required to convert resulting audio“loudness” to some pre-defined value.

[0202] Proceeding to step 1512, the processed audio clip is compressedinto an MPEG Layer 3 bit stream. The resulting bit rate (level ofcompression) can be varied to suit different needs. For instance, it canbe made dependent on the source audio clip length, to make thecompressed file fit into a pre-defined size. Alternatively, it can bemade dependent on the anticipated delivery method (to create, forinstance, a “built-in” audio clip of a very good quality, or to make theaudio clip of a very small size, for delivery through a slow channel).The compression parameters can also be selected so that the clipdelivery time is a constant independent of the actual link transferrate.

[0203] Technical Description of a Preferred Embodiment for a CellularPhone Accessory Unit

[0204] Electrical Schematics

[0205] FIGS. 6 A-D illustrate the electrical schematics of a mobilephone accessory unit. (The image of the printed circuit board, asrendered by Computer Aid Design Software is shown in FIG. 7). Initialboot-up of the processor is done from the EEPROM (Electrically ErasableProgrammable Read Only Memory) using passive serial SPI (SerialProgramming Interface) protocol. Thereafter, the boot loader code, readfrom the EEPROM, loads the main firmware from the Flash memory. The PLL(Phase Locked Loop) of the processor is programmed for 5×multiplicationof clock frequency.

[0206] Firmware debugging is carried out through the JTAG (Joint TestAction Group) port using standard TI (Texas Instruments) software.External RAM is mapped both to the program and data space at the sameaddresses and occupies all lower address space (64 k). Flash memory(Serial Data Flash) is accessed using software emulation of SPIprotocol.

[0207] Audio code (Coder-decoder) works at approx. 22 kHz sampling rate(both channels). The Mode Control transistor selects the phone interfacemode: either RS-232 control mode (closed state) or “hands free” mode(opened state). The phone itself does not support simultaneous usage ofthese two modes.

[0208] Both channels of RS-232 work at 11,5200 baud rate. From the PCside CTS (Clear to Send) and DTR (Data Terminal Ready) signals aresupported. From the phone side CTS and RTS (Request to Send) signals aresupported, with inverted polarities. Both channels employ hardware flowcontrol.

[0209] The analogue signal level at the phone input is about 100 mV RMS(Root Mean Square). The level at the phone output is about 600 mV RMS.

[0210] Cellular Phone with Accessory Unit

[0211] A cellular phone 900 with an accessory unit 902, according to oneembodiment, is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 using the Ericsson R520 as anexample. The accessory unit is housed in thin cover 904 (see FIGS. 10and 11) providing a mounting body 906 for attaching the phone 900 to theunit, via an interface connector 800. The accessory unit contains theprinted circuit board 802 and speaker, preferably along the thin portionof the body.

[0212] The accessory unit is attached to the back of the phone using thephone connector 800. A snap mounting which utilizes a dimpled section onthe phone case typically intended for a car phone holder may also beused.

[0213] The accessory unit includes the server software and two voicemodems, attached to the server. The mounting body contains all necessaryelectronic components.

[0214] The tasks of the electronic components include playing back of apre-loaded sound clip upon a caller ID notification reception anddownloading new clips from the server.

[0215] The body of the accessory unit preferably comprises a base 804, athin cover 806, and a molded cover 808. All three body components arepreferably made of high-quality aluminum-magnesium-copper alloy(duralumin) and are chemically covered with a protective oxide filmusing two different dyes (colored and black) for the two copies of thedevice. A dense rubber casing may also be used. Factors considered inselecting the body material include lightness (so that the accessoryunit would not exceed the phone itself in weight), mechanical strength,and the quality of electromagnetic shielding properties for protectingthe internal components from the waves radiated by the phone.

[0216] According to one embodiment, the accessory unit that embodies thedelivery system for a cellular phone attachment is about 1.5″×1.5″×0.25″and includes a small high fidelity built-in speaker. The accessory unitmay connect into the AC adapter fixture in the bottom of a cellularphone. A dense rubber casing or glove may house the device to protectit. The inside of the rubber glove may have a molded cavity that thedevice will fit into. The glove may have a circle of small holes whichline up with the device's speaker to allow full sound penetration. Thedevice and glove may be sold in different design variations both formarketing purposes and for fitting the different cellular phones on themarket.

[0217] Additionally, the accessory unit may connect into a cableconnector instead of an AC adapter jack so that different jacks can beused. The device may also be modified with four or five variations tofit the various cellular phone software systems, (not AC adaptervariations) currently on the market. The device, including a speaker,may also be made with several different adapter applications that wouldattach to a variety of different phones.

[0218] A snap-on mount for fastening the accessory unit to the phone maybe located in the base body. The main purpose of the thin cover is toprovide the electromagnetic shielding. The molded cover 808 containsconnectors and some other components.

[0219] A simple snap mechanism for attaching the accessory unit to thephone, similar to the installation of a cellular phone to a car phoneholder, may be provided.

[0220]FIG. 20 shows the accessory unit by itself, detached from thephone. The accessory unit can be detached from the phone similar to thedetachment of other accessories such as the phone charger (usually byapplying a rotating force rather than pulling straight out).

[0221]FIG. 21 shows the accessory unit uncovered. It is preferable toleave the body of the accessory unit closed. Preferably, there are noglued, soldered, or other permanent junctions inside, however, the highprecision in the manufacture of some components could lead to theirdegradation after repeated assembly and disassembly.

[0222] The accessory-to-phone mounting is preferably designed towithstand repeated attachment and detachment without degradation of thesnap-on mounting or connector. Although the phone body is also durable,it is preferable to attach and detach the accessory by shifting thesnap-on lock upward manually during the attachment procedure (like toduring detachment) to reduce wear of phone body near the latch.

[0223] The PCB (printed circuit board), located inside the accessoryunit, is a multi-layer board which may have 0.2 mm gaps, two solder masklayers, and a silkscreen layer. The board preferably carries all thecomponents, as illustrated in the schematics, excluding connectors andthe speaker. Two outer layers of the board are signal layers; twointernal layers are ground and 3.3V power plane. For convenience of thePCB assembly on modem plants, most packages are surface-mounted but notBGA. The board preferably does not contain any components requiring rareor custom-made equipment for their assembly.

[0224] The phone connector is preferably selected to maximize thefirmness of the attachment, taking into account significant dimensionsof the accessory unit. It should be mentioned that the connectors areunique to the type of the phone used (Ericsson R520 and compatible, likeR320 and T28, in this example).

[0225] Factors in selection of the speaker for music playback includedsound quality, which is primarily related to the speaker size,compactness, and weight of the speaker, as it is desirable that thespeaker not be thicker and heavier than the phone itself. Depending onthe available technology, there may be some tradeoff between goodspeaker quality and having a lightweight speaker. Speakers used inprofessional radio receivers-scanners may be a reasonable compromisesince such speakers provide better than usual sound quality whilepossessing reasonable dimensions and weight. Other options includeeither sacrificing weight and dimensions to increase sound quality orusing the new so-called “ceramic” speakers that are now appearing on themarket. Mention should be made that although using these speakers couldprovide better quality, special modifications to the device would berequired since these speakers could not be directly substituted in placeof the standard ones.

[0226] It should also be noted that the bandwidth of the acousticchannel of the cellular phone which, in turn, is non-linearly compressedand transmitted over a digital channel of the phone, is much less thanthe bandwidth of the conventional landline phone and can deliver about150 bytes per seconds data transfer rate. Conventional landline phonecould deliver about 3700 bytes per seconds (V.34). Using better speakersin the phone would entail loading sound fragments of better quality(and, therefore, of bigger size), which would increase the timenecessary to download a melody. The problem could be solved by using theGSM digital data channel directly which would provide a rate of about1000 bytes per second for existing cellular networks and more than 7000bytes per second for newly deployed systems. Alternative solutionsinclude: having to tolerate an increase in the sound file or sound clipdownload time, downloading a melody from a local computer (the melodybeing delivered to the local computer by some alternate means), andredesigning the system to support conventional (landline) phones. In thelatter case, due to the significant increase in the device body size, itmay make more sense to use a stereo-effect (which is reasonable when thespeakers of left and right channels have enough spatial separation).

[0227] Server Software Description

[0228] The server described herein performs the following functions: 1)startup, detection of the modem, detection of the melodies available; 2)answering incoming calls; and 3) servicing requests of user via DTMFcodes.

[0229] Upon startup, the application requests the user to select whichdevice to work with. Possible options include local test mode (0), modemon COM1 port (1), and modem on COM2 port (2).

[0230] If the local test mode is selected, all sounds will be playedback using the sound card of the local computer and the computerkeyboard will be used to control the server (via numeric buttons insteadof DTMF keyboard). This mode is primarily for system testing purposes.

[0231] If one of the modems is selected, all sounds will be played backinto the phone line using the selected modem, and the calling party'sphone keyboard (DTMF tones) will be used to control the server. This isthe normal mode of server operation.

[0232] The answering of incoming calls is performed differently in thelocal and the normal modes. In the local mode, the application waits forthe ‘R’ key to be pressed to simulate remote party RING, while in thenormal mode, the application waits for the RING signal from the modem.Then, in either mode, the application initializes the device used (soundcard or modem). In the latter case, the modem goes “off-hook” and playsback the greeting message and the main menu (e.g., 0-End of the session,1-Current, 3-Next, 4-Load).

[0233] Thereafter, the application goes into calling party servicingloop. Exit from the loop is possible upon reception of DTMF code ‘0’ (orits simulation using the keyboard) or after the 30-seconds timeout if noreaction is detected from the remote user. Additionally, if working withthe modem, the loop is exited when short beeps (“BUSY”) condition isdetected on the phone line. In the local mode, the ‘X’ key also leads tothe immediate exit of the application.

[0234] The calling party servicing algorithm may work as follows: thesoftware keeps the internal counter or number of the current sound clip.Initially, this number is “0” indicating that the clip is at the top ofthe list. Upon receiving the “1” command, the software plays back theclip with the current number. Upon receiving the “2” command, thesoftware increases the number and plays back the melody, i.e., plays thenext melody. Upon receiving the “3” command, the software decreases thenumber and plays back the melody, i.e., plays the previous melody. Uponreceiving the “4” command, the melody download is simulated. For theobvious reason, this mode is not implemented yet. Upon receiving the “0”command, the application switches the modem “on-hook” releasing thephone line and returns to the incoming call waiting state. Uponencountering any other command, the application plays back a standarderror message. At any moment, the server application can be aborted bypressing <Ctrl>C combination on the keyboard.

[0235] The server application keeps a log file (e.g., named“ProgramName_N.Log”) where N is a port number. Therefore, if twoinstances of the application are started, one for the modem on COM1 andthe other for the modem on COM2, two independent log files will becreated. The log file contains brief information about user and serveractions, times of events, their main features, for example, state of themodem or the sound card. These files are intended to be sent to thesoftware developers in case of problems but can be used for otherpurposes as well, for example, to estimate the server load.

[0236] Due to the fact that the server application always plays a melodywith the same quality as one would be able to hear through theconventional phone channel [monophonic, 8 kHz-sampling rate (signalbandwidth up to 3.7 kHz)], the sound quality of the played back clipsmay be low. This is not related in any way with the quality of soundthat would be digitally transferred to the client's phone when themelody is selected since listening to the clips from server through thephone network could not deliver better quality than the phone channelitself. For this reason, sound files compressed in monophonic versusstereo form would be preferred since the rate of delivery would befaster, with no loss in playback quality from the phone. At the sametime, when the clips are downloaded into the phone in digital form,significantly better quality could be delivered upon playback due to theperceptual compression; however, this would increase the transfer time.

[0237] The server software could also be implemented to track whichclips were sent to which user or subscriber. This information could thenbe tracked and reported to different third parties such as the CopyrightOffice, or performing or artists rights organizations or societies.

[0238] Devices for Accessing Sound and Image Files

[0239] Electronic devices adapted to receive sound and image data,according to the present invention, may be provided with an attachmentor built in mechanism for providing consumers with Internet based orInternet free access to a library of downloadable sound and/or imagefiles. Consumers may be allowed to download free clips of a song,musical composition, or other sound recording or movie or otherperformance onto any of these devices for use as alerts.

[0240] After hearing or viewing a clip, the user, preferably by the pushof a button, may transact a purchase of the full file associated withthe clip, which may be downloaded to the device in its entirety, ordelivered to the user's address on an independent medium such asrecords, cassette tapes, CDs, videotapes, and DVDs. Such practice isintended to encourage the sales of sound and image files by giving theuser the opportunity to quickly make an impulse purchase.

[0241] A device for downloading and listening to music files, which issimilar to a walkman type I-pod™ device, but uses the same deliverymethod as described for the cellular phone comprises a speaker and/or anearphone set for listening to music with volume controls (such as Boseor Shure E5 universal earphones), and a server access element (which maybe approximately the size of a credit card). Such a device may be usedas a hand held portable music player, as well as a car radio or homesystem, and may include larger speakers for use as an audio system bybusinesses such as bars, restaurants and clubs.

[0242] In addition to features which allow a user to access the serverlibrary, the device may include other features common to conventionalMP3 players and/or Apple I-Pod™ devices. The server access elementincludes controls, which may be buttons, for accessing, browsing, anddownloading files from the server to the device. Speed dial technologymay be used for accessing the server. For browsing, a multi-task arrowsbutton which allows the user to browse, listen to samples, and highlightspecific selections may be provided.

[0243] The server access element may include a small LCD monitor(approximately 1″×1.75″) for text browsing the server library. A smallmicrophone hole may also be included for allowing the user to browse thelibrary using voice commands. The earphone set or speaker will enablethe user listen to downloaded sound files.

[0244] Downloaded files may be stored on a device storage list foraccessing at all times, or deleted. Thus, the user may access a librarycontaining a large number of sound files, and browse, download, andlisten to music, without the Internet or the need to plug into acomputer. The consumer may be charged a fee for each download, or may beable to purchase actual items, for delivery to an address indicated bythe user, such as records, cassette tapes and CD's through the accesselement. Free clips which the user can download may induce the consumerinto purchasing the entire sound file from where the clip originated.

[0245] The device may also include a mechanism for allowing a user tostore downloaded files on a medium, such as a card, independent of thedevice. To this end, the device may provide a slot into which a storagecard may be inserted, such that when the device is full, files may bedownloaded onto the card for emptying space on the device. A securitymechanism may also be included to prevent intellectual property abuse,for example, by preventing users from playing copied files on otherdevices as described above. Such devices may further include amonitoring feature, which would allow performing rights organizationssuch as ASCAP and BMI to keep track of music publicly played by businesssuch as bars, restaurants, and clubs for the purpose of paying outroyalties.

[0246] A schematic diagram for a media file monitoring system 1800,according to a preferred embodiment, is shown in FIG. 18, for use withan I-Pod™ type listening device 1802, wherein a consumer may purchasecopyright registered media files which are downloaded wirelessly to thedevice 1802. The system 1800 includes an existing wireless network 1804of 1.5G or more, a system monitoring server 1806, and a system contentserver 1808. The monitoring server 1806 monitors and counts every filedelivered to the consumer device 1802, for monitoring and counting everyfile delivered to the device 1802. The server 1806 may track eachindividually titled file which may include information such as songtitle and artist name, purchase price, the consumer's name, and otheridentity information, time of delivery, and any other pertinentinformation. The server 1806 may also protect encrypted copyrightedfiles from illegal file copying. The content server 1808 storescopyrighted digital media content licensed from multiple entertainmentcompanies. Thereafter, monitoring information, including statistics maybe transmitted (e.g. through the Internet) to a company or organization.The system described may also apply to a viewer device for monitoringimage files.

[0247] A portable laptop type viewer device, for accessing and viewingimage and/or sound files, may comprise a wireless earphone set and/orspeaker for listening to programs with volume controls, and a PersonalDigital Assistant (PDA) with a monitor which may be approximately thesize of a laptop computer. This device allows the user to access aserver library containing a large number of movies, TV shows, cartoons,and other files, using either text or voice activation, without the needto plug into a computer or use of the Internet or other computer basedwireless telecommunication system.

[0248] The files may be categorized and subcategorized by type of file(i.e. movies, TV shows) then by title or name of main actors. TV showsmay further be classified by providing a description for each episode,similar to a description provided in a TV Guide™. Other categories andsubcategories of classification may be provided to allow the user toidentify the exact file he wishes to access.

[0249] The device allows the user to browse, download, preview, storeand view his selections, (using text, voice, or button commands),wherein a fee may be charged by the provider for any or all of theseoptions. The files may be made available as clips as well as in theirentirety. The viewer device may include a folder containing previouslydownloaded image files that can be accessed at any time and deleted whendesired. The library may be organized by categories such as type of show(i.e. movies, TV sitcoms), names of actors, show titles, sitcomdescription (e.g. as appearing in TV Guide™) etc.

[0250] Method of Advertising using Delivery of Sound Clips

[0251] The method of delivering sound and image files, in accordancewith the present invention, can further be utilized as an advertisingtool. To this end, any of the above-described systems carrying thelibrary of sound and/or image files, which include a website andnon-Internet accessible holding unit, may be used to expose the user tosponsored advertising messages. For example, a user calling the holdingunit may hear advertising while the system is accessing the library.

[0252] Other advertising opportunities may be provided by utilizing aphone or other electronic device using alerts according to the presentinvention. For example, the phone may ring with advertising gimmickssuch as promotional messages. Such advertisement gimmicks may be playedas default rings when no clip is selected for the ring. Additionally, aphone may be programmed to play, or transmit advertisementsspontaneously. Clips containing advertising messages such as jingles mayalso be provided. Advertising messages may be tacked onto a userselected clip of a popular song or the like.

[0253] Method of Distributing Music and Audiovisual Works to Consumers

[0254] A method of distributing music and audiovisual works to consumerswhile accounting to copyright owners of the works comprises: (a) Makingavailable on a website various selections of works in various categoriesfor review by identifying information and offering a portion of the workfor hearing or listening, each work being coded internally withidentification to a copyright owner or its representative; (b) Allowingconsumers to select the viewable or listenable portion of the work fordata storage online or for downloading to the consumers' electronicdevices at home wherein the downloaded file being encrypted to only playon the consumer's electronic devices first receiving the download; (c)Optionally tracking those consumers who received the download of theportion of the work and reporting to the copyright owners or theirrepresentatives information concerning the download; (d) Allowing aconsumer to return to the website to purchase and download a completecopy of the copyrighted work previously sampled by the consumer; (e)Conducting an online purchasing transaction and charging the consumerfor the download; (f) Downloading a complete copy of the copyrightedwork to the consumer in an encrypted fashion so as to be playable onlyin the consumer's electronic device and not exchangeable with thirdparties; (g) Tracking those consumers who received the download of thecopyrighted work and reporting to the copyright owner of theirrepresentatives information concerning the download; and (h) Paying thecopyright owners or their representatives a portion of the moneyreceived from the consumers for their downloading of the copyrightedwork.

[0255] The delivery system, according to the present invention will alsointegrate with future wireless technology, such as 3-G systems, as itbecomes available, for offering enhanced capabilities for accessing,delivering, and using sound and image files.

[0256] While the present invention has been described with reference toa preferred embodiment or to particular embodiments, it will beunderstood that various changes and additional variations may be madeand equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention or the inventive conceptthereof. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt aparticular situation or material to the teachings of the inventionwithout departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it isintended that the invention not be limited to particular embodimentsdisclosed herein for carrying it out, but that the invention includesall embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0257] It is an object of the present invention to provide a uniquemethod for using sound and image clips as alert sounds for a variety ofelectronic devices.

[0258] It is a further object of the present invention to provide amethod for ringing a cellular telephone using actual sound filesincluding sound clips which may comprise real music with human voice,various instrument sounds and other sound effects.

[0259] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asoftware system which may be integrated into existing cellular telephonehardware for enabling the cellular telephone to access and utilize soundfiles including clips, without the need for extra hardware.

[0260] It is a further object of the present invention to provide anaccessory attachment for cellular telephones and for landline telephoneswhich will enable the telephone to access and utilize sound files,including clips.

[0261] It is a further object of the present invention to provide asecurity feature for devices capable of receiving and playingmulti-media files for preventing consumer unauthorized dissemination ofsuch files.

[0262] It is a further object of the present invention to provide atracking feature for devices capable of receiving and playing musicfiles for providing performers and writers rights organizations with anaccurate method of determining royalty right payments to registeredperformers and writers.

[0263] It is a further object of the present invention to develop awebsite for browsing and for delivery of sound and image files includingclips.

[0264] It is a further object of the present invention to provide amethod for selling and buying products associated with existingcopyrighted music, movies, TV shows, and other recorded performances.

[0265] It is a further object of the present invention to provide adelivery method for allowing a user to access, browse and download filesthat is independent of the Internet, and does not require a plug in orhand wired connection.

[0266] These and other objects, advantages, and the industrial utilityof the present invention will be apparent from a review of theaccompanying specification and drawings.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for delivering a sound or visual filefrom a central server or servers to an electronic device or devices fora user comprising: compressing the file using a compression algorithm;storing the file in compressed format on a storage medium; andtransmitting the compressed file from said storage medium to theelectronic device, wherein said compression algorithm comprisingnormalizing sample amplitudes in sound file, and said file playable backfor the user with high quality reproduction and selectable by the userfrom the central server or servers to be retrieved by the electronicdevice with or without a worldwide network connection.
 2. The method ofclaim 1 further comprising storing the file on the electronic device. 3.The method of claim 1 further comprising playing back the file on theelectronic device.
 4. The method of claim 3 further comprising using thefile as an alert message for the electronic device wherein the file isplayed to alert the user of the occurrence of a specific event.
 5. Themethod of claim 4 wherein the electronic device is a telephone, andwherein the file is a sound file played to alert the user of an incomingcall.
 6. The method of claim 5 wherein a segment of the sound file isplayed to alert the user to the call.
 7. The method of claim 6 whereinsaid segment may be played repeatedly to alert the user to the call. 8.The method of claim 5 wherein the user associates the sound file with aspecific caller's phone number, wherein the sound file plays whenspecific caller calls.
 9. The method of claim 8 wherein a plurality ofsound files are delivered and stored on said telephone, and wherein auser of said telephone may associate one specific sound file of saidplurality of sound files with one specific caller from a plurality ofcallers.
 10. The method of claim 5 further comprising: said telephonebeing shared by a plurality of users, wherein a plurality of differentsound files are delivered to and stored on said telephone, and wherein aspecific sound file of said plurality of sound files is associated witha specific user of said plurality of users, wherein said specific soundfile alerts the user of an incoming call where said specific user is theintended recipient of said incoming call.
 11. The method of claim 1wherein the electronic device is a cellular phone, home phone, computer,clock, watch, pager, door bell, car alarm, palm pilot, or personalcalendar.
 12. The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of sound filesare delivered to and stored on the electronic device.
 13. The method ofclaim 1 wherein the electronic device includes an attachable accessoryunit for receiving the sound files.
 14. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid transmitting step is wireless.
 15. The method of claim 1 whereinsaid transmitting step is through the Internet or other computer basedsystem.
 16. The method of claim 1 wherein said transmitting step isindependent of the Internet or other computer based system.
 17. Themethod of claim 1 wherein said sound file is a personal recordingrecorded by a user of the device.
 18. The method of claim 1 furthercomprising charging a fee to a user of the device, said fee beingcharged based on the number of clips received or their duration.
 19. Themethod of claim 1 wherein the file is a segment of a full song, musicalcomposition, or other sound recording.
 20. The method of claim 19further wherein a user of the device may transact the purchase of anitem associated with said sound file upon hearing said sound file. 21.An electronic device comprising: a recording method which can store alarge number of clips, including sound clips, image clips, or acombination thereof, said clips capable of being actual recordings oflive performances; a receiver which receives the clips from a remoteserver; and a player which can selectively play said clips, wherein saidclips can be playable as alerts for the electronic device upon thehappening of a predetermined circumstances such as an incoming call orother event or circumstance and wherein a user of the device may selecta clip to play for alerting of the specified event.
 22. The device ofclaim 21, wherein the receiver is a wireless device which receives theclip by way of wireless communication.
 23. The device of claim 21,wherein the receiver has a hardwired connection to the internet forreceiving the clips.
 24. The device of claim 21, wherein the receiverreceives the clips by way of a standard hardwired telephone networkwithout accessing the internet.
 25. The device of claim 21 wherein saidclips are edited snippets from full files, and wherein the device isfurther capable of storing and playing full files including full soundfiles, full image files, or a combination thereof.
 26. The device ofclaim 23, wherein said full files can be used as said alerts.
 27. Thedevice of claim 21, wherein said clips are taken from songs, musicalcompositions, cartoons, movies, television shows, personal recordings,or a combination thereof.
 28. The device of claim 21, the device being acellular phone, home phone, computer, clock, watch, pager, door bell,car alarm, palm pilot, or personal calendar.
 29. The device of claim 28wherein the device is a cellular phone using sound alerts.
 30. Thedevice of claim 29 wherein said sound alerts are used to indicate anincoming call.
 31. The device of claim 30 wherein said sound alerts arefurther used to identify the caller or callee.
 32. The device of claim31 wherein said sound alerts for identifying the caller may be selectedby either the caller or callee.
 33. The device of claim 21 including acollection of sound clips, image clips, or a combination thereof storedon the device.
 34. The device of claim 21 further comprising anaccessory unit attachable to the device, said accessory unit beingcapable of interfacing with said device and containing said mediastorage of said clips.
 35. The device of claim 34, wherein saidaccessory unit further contains a player which can play said clips. 36.An electronic device comprising: a medium storage drive to store a largenumber of sound files, image files, or a combination thereof, said filescapable of being actual recordings of live performances; and a playerwhich plays said files, wherein said files are used as alerts for theelectronic device, and wherein a user of the device may select a file toplay for alerting of a specified event.
 37. A method of selling a soundfile to a consumer comprising: providing a telephone or other electronicdevice capable of playing sound recordings, said telephone beingoperated by the consumer; providing free sound clips to the consumer forplaying on the device; and providing the consumer an option to purchasethe sound file, the option to purchase the sound file selectable byusing the telephone keypad, wherein the consumer may purchase the soundfile through said means for purchasing the sound files, upon hearing asound clip taken from the file.
 38. A method of selling a sound file toa consumer comprising: providing a telephone or electronic productcapable of playing sound recordings, said product being operated by theconsumer; providing free sound clips to the consumer for playing on theproduct; providing a virtual media storage containing said sound clips,wherein said consumer can browse said virtual media storage and selectsound clips to be downloaded to said product; providing an option topurchase said sound file, using the product, or said virtual mediastorage, or a combination thereof.
 39. The method of claim 38, whereinsaid virtual media storage is accessible through the product, andwherein purchasing said sound file comprises the step of indicating anintent to purchase said file by pressing at least one key.
 40. Themethod of claim 38, wherein said virtual media storage is accessiblethrough the Internet, and wherein purchasing said sound file comprisesthe step of computer interaction on a keyboard indicating intent topurchase said file by way of the internet.
 41. The method of claim 38,wherein said file is downloadable to the user's product in a file formatwhich cannot be copied by third parties.
 42. A method of selling a soundor image file, or a combination thereof comprising the steps of: (a)Providing an electronic device; (b) Reviewing categories of music orimage files from a selection by way of a telecommunications network; (c)Listening to truncated samples of the music or image files from theselection; (d) Selectively storing or downloading selected truncatedsamples of the music or image files free of charge; (e) Receiving thetruncated samples of the music or image files on a portable electronicdevice for subsequent personal use such as using a ring tone, alarm orother alert; and (f) Subsequently purchasing the complete music or imagefile from those previously selected truncated music or image files byway of a telecommunications network.
 43. The method of claim 42, whereinthe file is downloadable to the electronic device, or contained on aphysical storage medium.
 44. The method of claim 43, said medium being acassette tape, video tape, record, CD, or DVD.
 45. A cellular phonecomprising: a receiving element for receiving preselected sound clips,said clips having high quality reproduction of musical compositions; anda player to play said clips with the cellular phone; wherein said clipsare playable as ring alerts for when the phone receives a telephonecall.
 46. The phone of claim 45, wherein said receiving elementcomprises software integrated with existing hardware of the cellularphone.
 47. The phone of claim 45, wherein said player includes asoftware system integrated into existing hardware of the cellular phone.48. The phone of claim 45, further comprising a media storage to store aplurality of said clips with said cellular phone.
 49. A method ofdistributing music and audiovisual works to consumers while accountingto copyright owners of the works comprising the steps of: (a) Makingavailable on a website various selections of works in various categoriesfor review by identifying information and offering a portion of the workfor hearing or listening, each work being coded internally withidentification to a copyright owner or its representative; (b) Allowingconsumers to select the viewable or listenable portion of the work fordata storage online or for downloading to the consumers' electronicdevices at home wherein the downloaded file being encrypted to only playon the consumer's electronic devices first receiving the download; (c)Optionally tracking those consumers who received the download of theportion of the work and reporting to the copyright owners or theirrepresentatives information concerning the download; (d) Allowing aconsumer to return to the website to purchase and download a completecopy of the copyrighted work previously sampled by the consumer; (e)Conducting an online purchasing transaction and charging the consumerfor the download; (f) Downloading a complete copy of the copyrightedwork to the consumer in an encrypted fashion so as to be playable onlyin the consumer's electronic device and not exchangeable with thirdparties; (g) Tracking those consumers who received the download of thecopyrighted work and reporting to the copyright owner of theirrepresentatives information concerning the download; and (h) Paying thecopyright owners or their representatives a portion of the moneyreceived from the consumers for their downloading of the copyrightedwork.